REVIEW: La bohème at WATERPERRY OPERA FESTIVAL 8 – 15 August 2026
‘A delightfully holistic experience and the music lingers on in the mind.’ ★★★★
An aspiring writer, Rudolfo, falls in love with a young woman, the gentle Mimi, only to find out that she is very ill. They are both so young and struggling with poverty, how can he cope with this? This is the devastating story of La bohème. The pair are contrasted with another couple, Rudolfo’s friend and painter, Marcello and the extravagant Musetta. In a neat reversal, the story focuses on bohemian culture, making Mini the outsider.
This Summer, WATERPERRY OPERA FESTIVAL, founded in 2017, comes under the new leadership of Artistic Director and CEO John Savournin. LPT magazine first met Savournin and his company Charles Court Opera at King’s Head Theatre London (in the days when it was a humble pub theatre). With Savournin’s exquisite sensibilities, we can expect further great things from this festival and its commitment to nurturing the next generation of artists while widening access to opera.
The season showcases two operas, performed in English: Donizetti's The Elixir of Love and Puccini's La bohème. Donizetti's comedy The Elixir of Love is presented in partnership with Savournin’s award-winning Charles Court Opera, and Puccini’s La Boheme is presented by Waterperry Opera Festival Orchestra.
Using the stunning backdrop of Waterperry House and Gardens, the opera is shown on two levels with two stages, an orchestra ‘pit’ and a winding staircase rising to a balcony. With performers also arriving from the gardens, the available expanse is used to much advantage. The story now updated to 1939, is set here at Waterperry House, where Mimi is a gardener.
If the first half of the opera has the feel of a low-budget production, the real enchantment begins after the interval, at nightfall with magical lighting effects, the transformation is worth the wait. In the glare of the natural light, the curtains of both stages are not very attractive and do not open without a little tug. The orchestra is half hidden by screens which seems a strange choice until they are revealed in all their splendour when audiences return from the break.
If the earlier party scene of the bohemians and their unconventional lifestyle has varying success, then the later scenes of Mimi dying are really powerful. The earlier aria of ‘Your Tiny hand is Frozen’ is later cleverly emphasised when Musetta walks down the grand staircase, sporting a brand-new pair of red leather gloves whilst Mimi is dying. It makes absolute sense when Musetta attempts to find money to engage a doctor, and gives Mimi a pair of mittens. Of course, we all know that it is all too little, too late.
The lighting really does charm and immediately sets the scene for a very emotive second half, and the music is really stunning. It is worth having played down the first half to fully appreciate the romance and power of Puccini’s memorable music. It stays in the mind long after the performance has ended, exactly as it should.
The performances that really shine on the night include Faryl Smith as Mimi and Ceferina Penny as Musetta. Robert Forrest and Patrick Dow as Rudolfo and Marcello respectively, also impress with their duet. Also, praise for Oskar McCarthy who brings a lot of fun to his role as the despised Benoit (the property owner and landlord – does nothing change).
It really is an holistic experience, with many festival goers taking advantage of the tea rooms, and the gardens. Some brought picnics and others opted to take advantage of the restaurant marque. With an interval of one hour and fifteen minutes there is sufficient time to dine midway through the opera, relax and enjoy the whole event making it a rather special occasion.
LA BOHÈME at Waterperry
8 - 15 August 2026
BOX OFFICE https://www.waterperryoperafestival.co.uk/2026-la-boheme
THE ELIXIR OF LOVE at Waterperry has ended but performances of this opera are available at Wilton’s Music Hall in London 8 – 19 September, box office https://wiltons.org.uk/whats-on/the-elixir-of-love/
CAST
Rodolfo: Robert Forrest
Mimi: Faryl Smith
Marcello: Patrick Dow
Musetta: Ceferina Penny
Schaunard: Owain Rowlands
Colline: Alaric Green
Benoit: Oskar McCarthy
YOUNG ARTIST CHORUS
Soprano: Lucy Breakwell
Soprano: Tia Radix-Callixte
Mezzo Soprano: Cerys Herbert-Stott
Tenor: Tom Law
Baritone: Will Jowett
ARTISTIC & PRODUCTION
Conductor: Bertie Baigent
Director: Ruth Knight
Set & Costume Designer: Jennifer Gregory
Lighting Designer: Ben Pickersgill
Assistant Set Designer: Hannah Kuchar
Movement Director: Taira Foo
Young Artist Assistant Director: Anne Sutton
Head of Music: Ashley Beauchamp
Répétiteur: George Ireland / Aleksandra Myslek
Production Manager: Sean Laing
Associate Production Manager: Thomas J. Quine
Stage Manager: Andrew Holton
Deputy Stage Manager: Phoebe Francis
Assistant Stage Manager: Emily Pettican
Costume Supervisor: Jade Newman Turner
Sound No.1: Nicolo Conti
Sound No.2: Harvey Graham
Photography by Julian Guidera
